Fiber refers to the portions of vegetables, grains and fruits that your body can't absorb or digest. As a form of complex carbohydrate, fiber plays an important role in promoting normal bowel function, controlling blood cholesterol levels and reducing your risk of developing heart disease, diverticular disease and diabetes, notes the Harvard School of Public Health. Your health care provider may recommend a low-fiber diet for specific health situations.
Indications
As a general rule, you should consume at least 20g of dietary fiber a day from food sources rather than supplements, says the Harvard School of Public Health. However, your physician or nutritionist may recommend a low-fiber diet for times when your digestive system can't handle this much fiber. If you're scheduled for surgery on your stomach or intestines, you may be advised to limit your fiber intake before the procedure and during your post-operative recovery period. Low-fiber diets are also recommended when the gastrointestinal tract is irritated by an acute disease, such as diverticulitis, or by treatment such as radiation therapy.
Fiber Types
Vegetables, nuts, wheat bran and whole-grain foods are high in insoluble fiber. Also known as roughage, insoluble fiber adds bulk and softness to your stools and helps them move quickly through your intestines. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, combines with bile acids from your liver to produce a gel that's excreted as waste. Citrus fruits, apples, oats, carrots, barley and legumes such as peas, lentils and beans provide soluble fiber. Dried fruit, berries, baked potatoes, greens and gas-producing vegetables like cabbage and broccoli are also high in soluble fiber, says MayoClinic.com.
Low-Fiber Foods
If you're on a low-fiber diet, Drugs.com recommends eating six to 11 servings a day of selected grain products and two to three servings each of low-fiber meats/meat substitutes, fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Low-fiber grain products include white bread or rice, plain pasta and cereals with less than 1g of dietary fiber per serving, says MayoClinic.com. For protein, choose eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese or tender meat, poultry or fish. Stick with canned or well-cooked vegetables and fruits that have no seeds, skins or hulls or select raw fruit with no skin or membranes.
Considerations
Because a low-fiber diet reduces the amount of residue left in your intestines to form stools, you can expect your bowel movements to be smaller. Drink plenty of fluids to help soften your stools, and take any stool softeners your doctor tells you to take.
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